Committees

If you would like to join a committee, email the chair(s). Meetings are held via Zoom.

Work Groups

General Membership

Bill and Paul co-chair the Coordinating Committee, as well as bi-weekly meetings of the entire membership. These bi-weekly meetings include updates from the working groups as well as other timely news.

Meets bi-weekly, on Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m.

Behavioral Health

The Behavioral Health Work Group advocates for appropriate and accessible behavioral health services for community dwelling older adults and adults under 60 so they can remain in the community; and appropriate and effective behavioral health services for adults who live in nursing homes so they can have opportunities to move to the community. The group includes individuals who are advocates, case managers, service managers, nurses, social workers, and more.

Meets the first and third Tuesdays each month at noon.

Communications

The Communications Work Group raises awareness of DAM, work group initiatives, and shares topical news and resources. Members of this group update DAM’s website, social media, brainstorm content and campaign ideas, manage public relations, and more!

Meets the first Thursday of every month at 10:00 a.m.

Facilities (Nursing and Rest Homes)

The Facilities Work Group addresses quality of care and quality of life issues affecting residents. Accomplishments of this work group include developing policy recommendations on a wide range of issues, such as safe staffing levels, long-term care visitation rights during a pandemic, COVID-19 vaccinations for long-term care staff, nursing home closure policies protecting resident rights, and much more.

Home and Community Based Services

The Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Work Group focuses on improving and promoting access to HCBS as an essential component of the Commonwealth’s long-term services and supports (LTSS) continuum. The HCBS group advocates for policies, protocols, practices, services and financing of the programs and services that keep individuals in their homes and communities so they can receive necessary, person-centered care in the least restrictive and most appropriate setting and that prevent the unnecessary admission of individuals to nursing facilities. Additionally, the HCBS subcommittee promotes the enhancement of the state’s LTSS to be able to transition out of nursing facilities all those who do not oppose returning to the community. Our committee examines the many factors that impact individuals’ access and utilization of HCBS, such as service capacity and delivery, as well as improving the Commonwealth’s waivers and other specialty programs.

Meets monthly

Legislative

The Legislative Work Group studies the current Congressional, State Senate and House legislation to determine those bills which align with the Dignity Alliance mission and goals. 

In addition, the Legislative Work Group is responsible for:

  1. Managing the Dignity Awards process for Legislators.
  2. Educating members on the legislative.
  3. Working closely with other work groups to advance bills to best serve elders, people with disabilities, and their caregivers.

Read Legislative Workgroup.pdf for more info.

Meets alternating Thursdays at 3:30 p.m.

Legal

The Legal Work Group provides feedback and guidance to other Work Groups, and the organization as whole pertaining to laws and regulations. In addition, the Legal Work Group analyzes cases for their relevance to Dignity Alliance, and helps draft and edit position papers for other Work Groups.

Meets as needed

Interest Groups

Assisted Living

Chair: John Ford – jford@njc-ma.org

Covid / Long Covid

Housing

The Housing Work Group has undertaken a pilot to provide 50 Alternative Housing Voucher Project (AHVP) vouchers to transition people out of nursing homes through the independent living center network. Regularly scheduled work group meetings are currently paused during the implementation of this pilot.

Incarcerated Persons

coming soon

Transportation

Veteran Services